Thill-coupling.



W. J. HOTOHKISS. THILL COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1914.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

. of efficiency and WALLACE J. HOTCHKISS, 0F ALPENA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

THIIJL-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

App1ication filed June 24, 1914-. Serial No; 847,058.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALLACE J. Horos- KISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alpcna, .in the county of J erauld and tate of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill- Couplings, of which the following is a speciheation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful particularly to a device of this character which can be quickly and readily attached or detached when desired, the main ob ect of the present invention being the provision of a thill coupling which can be quickly and readily applied and which, at the same time is provided with means whereby to prevent the rattling of the same when driving.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the above character which will possess advantages in points durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and, at the same time, is simple in construction and operation.

"With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination anu arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularlypointed out in the specification and claims. In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a thill coupling constructed in accordance with my invention, one. of the 5 thill l ars being illustrated in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the axle being shown in cross section. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation-g and Fig. 4 is a top plan View.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the front axle of a vehicle and secured theretois my improved thill coupling which is generally indicated by the numeral 2. The thill coupling proper includes a vertical body portion 3, one end of which is curved upon itself as shown at 4, thence curved rearwardly as shown at 5 to form a pocket. It will be noted that the rearwardly curved. portion 5 is centrallybifurcated, as shown at 6, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. Extending outwardly from the lower end of the body 1, are the spaced arms 7, one of said arms, whichis g nerally indicated by thenumeral 7' being hingedly connected, as shown at 8 to the-body member and adapted to swing outwardly awayfrom the other arm '7. C

Hingedly connected to the lower end of the body 3 is a movable plate 9 which, when the;devic'e is secured to the frame of the vehicle, is disposed in a horizontal position and provided at its upper end with a sleeve 10 through which the transverse bolt 11 is adapted to extend. Pivotal] y mounted upon each end of the bolt 11 is a fastening memimprovements in thill couplings and more ber 12which includes the divergent arms having loops formed at their ends and mounted upon the bolt 11 and integrally formed at the other ends and threaded. Slidably mounted upon the threaded portion of the member 12, a curved bar 13 which is adapted to be seated within the curved portion 5 of the plate 3. Threaded upon the outer end of the member 12 is a wing nut let which is adapted to tightly clamp the member 13 within the curved pocket 5 and the nicmbeiyl). extendingthrough the bifurcation 6.

Mounted in the lower ends of the arms 7 and 7, is a transverse bolt 15, said bolt having one end provided with a transverse opening 11 in which the key 17 is adapted to be arranged to retain said bolt in its operative position. Mounted upon the bolt 15 and arranged between the arms 7 and 7,

is the inner end of the thill 18.

The device is securely held against lateral movement by means of a spring 19, one end of which is coiled upon the bolt 15, while the other end thereof extends upwardly and rcarwardly to form a curved loop, as shown at 20, which is adapted to be engaged beneath the sleeve of the hinge which connects the plate 9 with the body 3. The end then extends upwardly over the innor end of the thill, thus forming an antirattling device which will yieldably retain the thill against movement.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable thill coupling whereby the device may be readily attached to the vehicle frame by disengaging the member 12 from the curved end 5 of the plate 3 and then inserting the end of the member 12 in the bifurcation and tightening the wing nut 14. It will be noted that by hinging the arm 7 to the plate 3, the bolt 15 can be readily removed or placed in position, as desired so as to quickly and readily connect the thill with the coupling. It will also be noted that by having the'coil spring 19 arranged in position, as illustrated and described, the thill will be securely retained against any rattling movement While in v operation.

The device, as herein shown and described, is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a comparatively low cost.

; While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be v obvious that various changes in the details free end portion of the curved extremity being bifurcated, a plate hingedly engaged with the opposite extremity of the elongated member, a fastening member pivotally engaged with the plate and adapted to be disposed Within the kerf of the bifurcated extremity of the elongated member, a bar slidably mounted upon the fastening member and of a curvature to be snugly received within the curved gated member, and a retaining member in threaded engagement with the fastening member and adapted for contact with the opposite extremities of the bar;

2. A device of the character described including a vertically disposed body comprising an elongated member having one extremity disposed on a compound curve, the free end portion of the curved extremity being bifurcated, a plate hingedlyengaged with the opposite extremity of the elongated member, the outer extremity of the plate being provided with asleeve disposed transversely thereof, afastening member, one extremity of the fastening ing divergent arms terminating in loops adapted to overlie the sleeve,,means disposed through the sleeves and the loops of the arms for hingedly connecting the fastening member to the plate, a ,bar slidably mounted upon the fasteningmember and of a curvature to be snugly received within the curved extremity of the elongated member, and a retaining member in threaded engagement with the fastening member and 9 adapted for contact with the opposite extremities of the bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. WVALLACE J. HOTCHKISS. Witnesses M. A. MANWARING, HENRY H. HATCH.

00p!!! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

extremity of the elonmember includ- 

